Driving modes
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 25
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Driving modes
New owner of a 2021 F150. I've had it for about a month now and was wondering what, or if, the driving modes make that much of a difference.
Mostly asking about the Eco mode, does it help with MPG that much? I have a 5.0L V8 and am very doubtful that it's making a difference. Is it enabling that "cylinder deactivation" thingy?
I tried Sport mode. I couldn't feel that much of a difference.
So I suppose that besides enabling 4x4, that most of these driving modes are mostly for show? (At least on a 5,000lb truck)
Mostly asking about the Eco mode, does it help with MPG that much? I have a 5.0L V8 and am very doubtful that it's making a difference. Is it enabling that "cylinder deactivation" thingy?
I tried Sport mode. I couldn't feel that much of a difference.
So I suppose that besides enabling 4x4, that most of these driving modes are mostly for show? (At least on a 5,000lb truck)
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,357
Likes: 250
I think the cylinder deactivation is on all the time except when in sport and tow/haul mode. On my wife's 2018 I can tell the difference when it's in sport mode, it holds the gears longer and makes the truck feel a little more peppy.
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,472
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I have a '17 2.7 six speed. As Fordman said, it holds the gears longer, and one section of road I was on became much easier with the Sport Mode. It was a twisty, hilly narrow two lane--California Highway 4 east of Stockton. With Sport, it stayed in the lower gear and provided extra engine braking on the short downhill, but was in the right gear for the next uphill. Overall it reduced shifting greatly, and reduced forced downshifting altogether.
I towed a dump trailer--tow haul does basically the same thing. Holds the gear longer.
I think in "normal" steady state straight road driving you would not find much improvement with Sport.
I towed a dump trailer--tow haul does basically the same thing. Holds the gear longer.
I think in "normal" steady state straight road driving you would not find much improvement with Sport.
5th Wheeling
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 33
Likes: 2
I've only used a few of the different modes in my '21. Eco mode does seem to help with mpg but I've found it's really only on longer highway trips going about 70. Day to day city driving it didn't seem to do much. Tow/haul is pretty self explanatory. I was towing a small uhaul trailer so I didn't think I'd need it but once I put it in tow/haul the ride instantly got a little smoother and handled much better. I'm surprised you say you didn't notice a difference with sport mode. I felt like the first time I put it in sport it was like strapping a rocket on. That mode I did look up and it keeps it in lower gears. I step on the gas and it's off to the races. Not to mention the lower gears cranks that engine and it really brings out that glorious V8 sound.
5th Wheeling
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 41
Likes: 6
If i was worried about gas I would have bought a maverick or a car... My truck never leaves sport mode unless I pull a trailer. I also have the 5.0 with 373 gears... I find the MPG is the same unless I am on the highway and based on the weight of my foot that day... So may as well have fun while driving it
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 235
Likes: 84
As others have mentioned, the modes do indeed make a difference and I'm surprised you would need to ask as I can definitely feel the difference when driving my truck. Eco mode makes it a little sluggish as it doesn't let the engine rev very high before upshifting, Tow-Haul revs the engine higher before shifting and disables auto-stop/start if Ford didn't delete it at build, and Sport also disables stop-start and rev's higher before shifting. I have a PowerBoost and Sport mode is slightly scary until you get used to it because it is so quick (YouTube testers found it faster than the High Output 3.5 Raptor). I can't say much about the 4X4 modes because I use them so rarely (Slippery, Snow/Sand, Mud/Ruts, Rock crawl),
https://www.wheelsjoint.com/ford-f-1...eir-functions/
https://www.wheelsjoint.com/ford-f-1...eir-functions/
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4wd Low
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 11
Likes: 3
I've notice no difference in mpg from normal mode to eco mode and I have tested it multiple times in the same scenarios.Although I do drive conservatively anyway, so that may be why.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,907
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The ECO mode alters the throttle program to be less aggressive to foot control..
Skip up shifting in traffic occurs at speeds below about 50.
Fuel is shut off when throttle is lifted etc. all to help save some fuel.
This is less wear in the transmission over the long time interval because you don't need all the gears to pull the tuck with a 5L engine..
How much of a difference are you expecting?
For example 10% of 15 mpg is only 1.5 mpg.
You could normally not see that result on a short time basis driving around town or area.
I like the comment about it being all for show! RIGHT!.
There is a lot of other things the vehicle is equipped to do if you just do some looking into.
Good luck.
Skip up shifting in traffic occurs at speeds below about 50.
Fuel is shut off when throttle is lifted etc. all to help save some fuel.
This is less wear in the transmission over the long time interval because you don't need all the gears to pull the tuck with a 5L engine..
How much of a difference are you expecting?
For example 10% of 15 mpg is only 1.5 mpg.
You could normally not see that result on a short time basis driving around town or area.
I like the comment about it being all for show! RIGHT!.
There is a lot of other things the vehicle is equipped to do if you just do some looking into.
Good luck.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,907
Likes: 143
Wet/Snow mode does something quite unique.
It engages the ABS system to sense rear wheel spin.
It applies some braking to that wheel and force engine torque to the other side.
It becomes an electronic traction control using an unlocked rear.
This limits rear side sliding if both rear wheels were locked up in the differential. Its also part of normal Traction control in other modes.
.
This kind of electronic control is the same thing as done nearly a 100 years ago on Farm Tractors that had separate foot braking for those times it got stuck in the field.
The truck system does this nearly transparently.
Good luck.
It engages the ABS system to sense rear wheel spin.
It applies some braking to that wheel and force engine torque to the other side.
It becomes an electronic traction control using an unlocked rear.
This limits rear side sliding if both rear wheels were locked up in the differential. Its also part of normal Traction control in other modes.
.
This kind of electronic control is the same thing as done nearly a 100 years ago on Farm Tractors that had separate foot braking for those times it got stuck in the field.
The truck system does this nearly transparently.
Good luck.
5th Wheeling
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 41
Likes: 6
Mine NEVER leaves sport mode... It just changes the shifting point.. Makes the truck feel faster and a lot more fun to drive IMHO.. Gas mileage stays the same unless you cant stay outta the pedal ..which sport mode makes it hard to do
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